Accelerator switch



March 13, 1934- w, H. GREENLEAF ACCELERATOR SWITCH Filed April 2, 1928 Patented Mar. 13, 1934 PATENT OFFICE 1,950,846 ACCELERATOR SWITCH William H. Grecnleaf, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Western Clock Company, Peru, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 2, 1928, Serial No. 266,527

15 Claims.

My invention relates to the class of devices that are more particularly used for making and breaking electric circuits and more commonly known as switches, and an object of my invention, among others, is the production of a device of this kind that shall be simple in construction and particularly efiicient in operation.

One form of a switch embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a top view of a portion of the device cut in section on a plane denoted by the dotted line 1-1 of Figure 4, the parts being in the position assumed when the armature is in contact with the magnets.

Figure 2 is a similar View of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1 with the parts in the position assumed when the armature has been moved nearly to its fullest extent away from the magnets and with the contacter in substantially its central position.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2, but showing the contacter in a position to close the switch.

Figure 4 is an edge view of my improved device looking toward the ends of the magnets.

Figure 5 is a similar view but looking toward the sides of the magnets.

Figure 6 is an isometric view illustrating my improved device.

My improved accelerator, altho not limited to use in connection with any special mechanism, is particularly adapted for use with the accelerating mechanism of electric clocks which may be of different types of construction one of which, and as an illustration, will be found in the mechanism particularly illustrated and described in my patent for motor dated February 3, 1925, No. 1,525,179, and to which patent reference is hereby made for such further information as may be required relating to the clock mechanism as a whole. I have, therefore, shown my improved device forming the subject matter of this application as applied to a mechanism of this sort, but in the drawing herein only so much of the mechanism has been illustrated as will be required for a thorough and complete understanding of my invention.

In the accompanying drawing the numerals 7-8 indicate back and front plates, respectively, or an accelerating unit for an electric clock, and which unit embodies a ratchet shaft 9 rotatably mounted in the front plate 8 and having a ratchet wheel 10 secured thereto preferably on the inner side of the plate 8 and a pinion 11 secured thereto on the opposite and outer side of said plate 3. The pinion 11 is adapted to mesh with a gear secured to the winding arbor of the clock mechanism proper, which gear, however, is not shown herein as its showing is unnecessary to a complete understanding of the construction and operation of my improved device. The winding arbor above mentioned extends into a winding drum comprising a part of the clock mechanism in a manner well known.

Briefly stated, said arbor is intermittently rotated by the mechanism herein shown and through the connection described as by means of a winding pawl 12 secured to and projecting from an armature 13 operating in connection with an electric magnet comprising coils 14-15. The armature is pivotally supported by and between the plates 7 and 8 as by means of pivots 15 extending from overturned ears on the armature into openings in said plates and as shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawing. The pawl 12 is preferably a spring arm secured to and projecting from the armature and tensioned to force the pawl constantly into engagement with the rachet wheel. A holding pawl 17 of the same general characters as to spring qualities as the winding pawl, is secured to and projects from the plate 8 into contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and as shown in Figure 5 of the drawing, this to prevent backward movement of said ratchet wheel. A spring 18 which, in fact, is the main spring, is secured at one end to the armature 13 and projects to rest against one of the posts 19 connecting the plates 7 and 8, and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawing. This spring in the particular form herein shown and in its arrangement with respect to the armature is of material advantage in that it periorms the functions here- 9 to usually requiring a spring of greater power and occupying much more space.

The armature 13 has a notch 20 in one edge through which a contact 21 projects, this contact being secured to a contact plate 22 secured against the ends of the magnets 14 and 15 and connected therewith as by means of a finger 23, and as shown particularly in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawing, said finger and contact being insulated from the frame of the device.

A contacter 24 is supported in cooperative relation with respect to the contact 21, this contacter comprising a spring of leaf form supported at its opposite ends and having a contact 25 adapted to rest against the contact 21. The distance between the supports for the contact is less than that of the contacter between said supports so that said contacter is forced to assume a bowed form in both of its positions of rest. It is quite resilient which enables its center to be forced to opposite sides of a straight line extended between said supports. This contacter may be supported in various ways, the arrangement herein shown producing very satisfactory results in which the supports 262'7 are secured directly to and project from the armature 13, and as shown in Figure 6 of the drawing, in this arrangement the contacter projecting across the contact 21.

It is preferred that at least one end of the contacter shall have a resilient support, and in the arrangement herein illustrated the support 27 is of a resilient character while the support 26 is more or less rigid. It will be understood, however, that either or both of these supports may be of the resilient type. A post 28 is secured to and projects from the plate 7 in the path of movement of the contacter 24, and as shown in Figure 6.

This arrangement, both as to form and as to location of the operative parts, enables a very compact assemblage of said parts, but it also reduces the force required for operation of the mechanism to a minimum, the force required by the spring 18, in addition to that demanded by the clock mechanism, being very slight owing to the little power required to flex the contacter 24, and this power being supplied by the spring 18, and the arrangement of this spring is such that substantially its full force is obtained to keep the clock mechanism in operation and to flex the contacter 24.

It will be understood that the pinion 11 is engaged with a gear of the clock mechanism, the latter including a spring barrel containing a spring that continuously exerts its force to keep the clock mechanism in operation. An accelerator unit is for the purpose of periodically winding said spring and in operation of my improved unit the winding pawl 12 exerts a pull upon the rachet wheel 10, this pull being effected by means of the spring 18 through the medium of the armature 13 to which the spring is attached.

When the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1 the contacter 24 has just moved to separate the contacts 21 and 25 and the electric circuit created by a battery 29 through wires 30--31 is broken. The spring 18 is, therefore, exerting its force to draw the armature 13 away from the magnets and this causes the pull by the winding pawl 12 upon the ratchet wheel 10 just hereinbefore referred to. The escapement mechanism of the clock, however, prevents any rapid movement of the armature and the latter, therefore, travels very slowly carrying with it the contacter 24 and its supports. At a certain position in its outward movement said contacter is pressed against the post 28 with a result that said contacter is gradually flexed, until it has been passed to the opposite side of a straight line between its supports. Just as soon as this line is passed the contacter quickly and forcibly snaps the contacts together, thus completing the electric circuit. This energizes the magnets 14, 15 in a manner common to devices of this class drawing the armature 13 against the magnets and thereby engaging the pawl 12 with an advanced tooth on the ratchet wheel 10 for a repetition of the winding operation above described.

The inward swinging movement of the armature just described with the two contacts 21 and 25 resting in engagement carries the end supports of the contacter inwardly thereby causing the contacter to be again flexed but in the opposite direction to that just described, with a result that as soon as it passes the center line it is snapped away from the armature thus quickly separating said contacts and breaking the electric circuit and placing the parts in readiness for a repetition of the operation just described.

One pole of the battery is directly connected with the magnets and the other pole is grounded on the frame of the unit in a manner common to structures of this class as will be readily understood.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the device which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set out.

I claim- 1. A make and break device for an electric circuit including a contacter member and an actuator member relatively movably mounted, said actuator member being pivotally mounted at one end and said contacter member comprising a strip of flexible material supported in a normally bowed condition at one or the other sides of a center line, said contacter member having one of a pair of contacts to engage with and be disengaged from the other contact of said pair, means for effecting pivotal movement of said actuator member, means for retarding movement of said actuator member, and means interposed in the path of movement of said strip to flex it from its bowed condition in one direction and cause it to assume a bowed condition in an opposite direction.

2. A make and break device for an electric circuit including a movably mounted contacter member and an actuator member, the latter being pivotally mounted at one end, said contacter member having one of a pair of contacts adapted to engage with and be disengaged from the other contact of said pair, said contacter member comprising a strip of flexible material supported at its opposite ends on said actuator member in a normally bowed condition at one or the other side of a central line, means for moving said contactor member, means for retarding movement of said actuator member, and means located in the path of movement of said contacter member to flex it from its normal bowed condition to cause it to bow in the opposite direction.

3. In an accelerator switch, in combination with an actuator member pivotally mounted at one end and responsive to electrical conditions, a switch member to control said electrical conditions, said switch member including a contacter supported by said actuator member on opposite sides of the center of a line extending lengthwise of said actuator member, said switch member be ingofalengthto cause it to flex between said supports to opposite sides of a center line, a contact carried by said contacter, a contact located in the path of movement thereof, means for retarding movement of said actuator member, and means located in the path of movement of said contacter to effect said flexing movements.

4. An accelerator switch including an electromagnet, an armature therefor pivotally mounted at one end, a contacter of flexible material mounted on said armature, means for supporting said contacter on said armature on opposite sides of a line extending lengthwise of said contacter, the

distance between said supports being less than the length of said contacter between said supports, a contact carried by said contacter, a cooperating contact mounted in the path of movement of said contacter, means for retarding movement of said armature, and actuating means located opposite said cooperating contact and in the path of movement of said contacter.

5. An accelerator switch including an electromagnet, a contact projecting therefrom, a post located opposite said contact, an armature pivotally mounted at one end with respect to said magnet, a flexible contacter extending between said contact and said post, means for retarding movement of said armature, and supports on said armature for opposite ends of said contacter, the distance between said supports being less than the length of said contacter between said supports.

6. In combination, an electromagnet, an armature therefor pivotally mounted at one end, a fiexible spring contacter member mounted on said armature, a spring rigidly secured at one end to said armature and having its free end forcibly resting against a support therefor, a contact on said contacter member, and a contact located on said magnet and a stop, both located in the path of movement of said spring contacter member to flex it from its normal bowed condition in either direction.

'7. A make and break device for an electric circuit including a pair of opposed fixed members, one of which is an electric contact, an actuator element pivotally mounted at one end, independent means for swinging said element in opposite directions with respect to said members, means for retarding movement of said element, a second contact, and elongated means for mounting the second contact solely on the movable element in such a manner as to cause the second contact to move successively against the fixed members as the element is moved in opposite directions, one end of the said elongated means being substantially fixed relatively to said pivot.

8. A make and break device for an electric circuit including a pair of opposed fixed members, one of which is an electric contact, an actuator element pivotally mounted at one end, independent means for swinging said element in opposite directions with respect to said members, means for retarding movement of said element, a second contact positioned between the fixed members, and a longitudinally tensioned leaf spring for mounting the second contact solely on the movable element in such a manner as to cause the second contact to move successively against the fixed members as the element is moved in opposite directions, one end of said elongated means being substantially fixed relatively to said pivot.

9. A make and break device for an electric circuit including a flexible contacter member and an electro-magnetic actuator member pivotally mounted at one end, means for supporting the contacter member on the actuator member in a normally bowed condition at one or the other side of a center line, said contacter member having one of a pair of contacts to engage with and be disengaged from one another, means for retarding movement of said actuator member, and means interposed in the path of movement of said contacter member to flex it from its bowed condition in one direction and cause it to assume a bowed condition in the opposite direction, one

end of said contacter member being substantially relatively fixed with respect to said pivot.

10. A make and break device for an electric circuit including a movably mounted flexible contacter member and an actuator member pivotally mounted at one end, said contacter member having one of a pair of contacts adapted to engage with and be disengaged from each other, meansfor mounting the contacter member on the actuator member in a normally bowed condition at one or the other side of a center line and with one end substantially relatively fixed with respect to said pivot, means for retarding movement of said actuator member, and means located in the path of movement of said contacter member to flex it from its normal bowed condition to cause it to bow in opposite directions.

11. In combination an electromagnet, an armature therefor pivotally mounted at one end, a spring rigidly secured at one end to said armature adjacent to the pivot of said armature and having its free end forcibly resting against a support therefor, a spring actuating contacter member mounted on said armature, means to bow said contacter member in opposite directions, and a contact on said contacter member to engage with a contact on said magnet.

12. A make and break device for an electric circuit including an actuator member pivotally mounted at one end, a contacter member supported on said actuator member and comprising a strip of flexible material supported in a normally bowed condition at one or the other side of a center line, said contacter member having one of a pair of contacts to engage with and be disengaged from the other contact of said pair, one end of said contacter member being relatively located with respect to the pivot of the actuator member to eiiect relative change in positions of opposite ends of said contacter member whereby to flex. it from its bowed condition in one direction and to cause it to assume a bowed condition in an opposite direction, and means for limiting movement of said contacter member in one direction.

13. A make and break device for an electric circuit including an actuator member pivotally mounted at one end, a contacter member supported on said actuator member and comprising a strip of flexible material supported in a normally bowed condition at opposite ends of said actuator member to effect relative change in positions of opposite ends of said contacter member in the pivotal movement of the actuator member, said contacter member having one of a pair of contacts to engage with and be disengaged from the other contact of said pair, and means for limiting movement of said contacter member in one direction.

14. A make and break device for an electric circuit including an actuator member pivotally mounted at one end, supports rising from opposite ends of said actuator member, a contacter member comprising a strip of flexible material supported in a normally bowed condition by said supports and having one of a pair of contacts to engage with and be disengaged from the other contact of said pair, pivotal movement of said actuator member effecting relative change in positions of opposite ends of said contacter member in opposite directions to flex said contacter member in opposite directions, and means for limiting movement of the contacter member in one direction.

15. A make and break device for an electric movement of said actuator member eiieci'srela tiye oi pqmtions of opposite ends of said contacicr-member'to'fiek it in opposite directions} saidcontacter member having one of a pair of contacts to engage with and be disengaged from'the other contact of said pair, and means for limitingmove'ment; of said contacter member in one direction.

- ILLIA H. GREENLEAF. 

